The group-ride conversation turns to "going green." You desperately want to slip in that you do your part for the environment by riding your bike to the office. Instead you list unfortunate reasons for having to drive each morning.

You may not be able to get from point A to point B by bike, but there are ways to get from A-and-a-half to B, or any other combination thereof. If you're not willing or able to ride the whole way, compromise.

Bring a few changes of clothes to the office when you drive there on Monday morning. Commute back and forth by bike Monday evening through Friday morning. Drive home Friday after work.

Drive partway (preferably beyond that dangerous stretch of highway), park your car and ride the remaining distance to work. Go home in reverse.

For those of you ready to use the but-I-don't-have-a-rack excuse, here's how to creatively configure your bike so it fits into the back seat of your sedan:

1) Spread a Tyvek Ground Sheet ($20; materialconcepts.com) or other protective cover over the back seat.

2) Remove the front wheel (on disc-brake bikes, be careful not to squeeze the levers; doing so could jam your brakes).

3) Lower the saddle.

4) Gently load the bike rear-wheel first so that the greasy drivetrain isn't facing the back seat.

5) If your cables are long enough, flip the handlebar 180 degrees for a better fit.